August 4 - National Chocolate Chip Day

Wait just a minute.

Didn't I already celebrate Chocolate Chip Day earlier this year? Why, yes! Yes, I did - and here's the post to prove it.

If you view the National Confectioners Association's calendar, you will see that they really do have two National Chocolate Chip Days. (They also have five different days listed as Chocolate Day, two of which are in December. I call shenanigans!)

But when I think about it, chocolate chips are pretty amazing. I guess it wouldn't hurt to celebrate them twice a year. If you don't know by now how chocolate chips (and chocolate chip cookies) were invented, I will tell you. In 1933, a woman named Ruth Wakefield wanted to make chocolate cookies. She made her usual butter cookie batter, and chopped up a semi-sweet chocolate bar (that's how it was sold before chips were invented) thinking that the little bits would melt and blend with the cookie dough. When baked, the bits softened but basically kept their shape. Somewhere along the line, Nestlé heard about this and printed her recipe on their chocolate bar wrapper. At first, they made a special chopper to break up the chocolate, but in 1939, the chocolate began to be sold in chip (Nestlé calls them morsels) form. Oh, and Mrs Wakefield ran (with her husband) the Toll House Inn, hence the name, Toll House Cookies!

Now, since it is so warm this time of year, it is not likely anyone would want to bake chocolate chip cookies, so you can buy them (lame!) or make some chocolate chip ice cream. If I wasn't on a low-carb diet, I would sooo make mint chocolate chip ice cream. I have made this recipe in the past, and I highly recommend it. Use the teeny tiny chocolate chips if you can find them. Alternatively, you could shave a chocolate bar, but this isn't Chocolate Shavings Day, so you should probably just stick with the chips. Plus shaving chocolate can get really messy.

Today is also:
Coast Guard Day

June 7 - Chocolate Ice Cream Day

National Chocolate Ice Cream Day

WOOHOO! It may not be summer yet where you live, but here in LA it is perfect ice cream weather! Even if you're just waiting for summer to arrive, grab a bowl or cone of chocolate ice cream.

Try making your own chocolate ice cream today - here's a recipe you can use even if you don't have an ice cream maker. A good addition to chocolate ice cream would be mini chocolate chips or chocolate shavings!

Is there anything better than chocolate ice cream? Yes - MORE chocolate ice cream!


Today is also:
Daniel Boone Day
National Trails Day

June 2 - Bubba Rocky Road Office Fudge Cobra Day

Wow, I have some great holidays to pick from today! This makes up for the lack of quality celebrations last week.

National Bubba Day
Everyone knows a Bubba. Be nice to Bubba today. The poor guy deserves a break.

Leave the Office Earlier Day
Well I can't personally condone this observation. Nor do I plan on participating. But if you go in for this kind of thing, today is the day to do it. Here's how. If you can't participate, send an e-card to someone who deserves to leave early.

Rocky Road Day
This is an easy one to celebrate. After leaving the office early, pick up some rocky road ice cream on the way home. Get an extra one for Bubba. If you're feeling fancy, make it yourself. Add mini-marshmallows, chopped nuts and chocolate chunks to your ice cream. Feeling extra-fancy? Make it from scratch.

Yell "Fudge" at the Cobras in North America Day
Another wacky holiday from the folks over at Wellcat.
Apparently North American cobras do not like fudge. At noon, go outside and yell, "FUDGE!" at them. Just do it. Don't ask why.